Books
Hi everyone!
In the last post I asked you about books and I received some indications (thank you!). I’ll try to read them all. The first book that I started to read in English language was “The Notebook” by Nicholas Spark. The language was not difficult, but I have to tell you that the book was boring and I could not read it until the end.
Recently I read “London Bridges” wrote by James Patterson. This book tells the story of Alex Cross, and it is just amazing. When I finished reading that book I became sad. It was like a vicious. I need that book.
Now I’m reading “A Simple Plan”, by Scott B. Smith. It is an interesting suspense book. The lecture is a bit more complicated than the “London Bridges”. The story is less interesting, but is a nice book.
I should tell you that I don´t think that my English is good enough to read a book and get profit of the reading. It was worst when I read the first book. But as the journey starts with one step, read a book starts in the first page. We have to be patient to read a book in a foreign language. Sometimes I thought that I will not complete the task. And when I have to stop the reading for search a word in a dictionary or when I can’t understand a phrase or expression, it makes me crazy! It is frustrating.
But In the middle of the book, I think that the basic set of words and expressions to understand the story is “well-definite”. I mean, words and expressions regularly used by the author became part of my vocabulary. Then, the reading became easier. And when I finish a book I feel great because the work is done. And, if the book is really good, I feel great in double.
Some colleagues wrote in their comments “my English is not so good like yours” (believe me, my English is not so good) or like Thienloi said “basically, these guys like me don't have enough patient to keep reading completely one book or one long story or any kind of them”. I don´t have patient, too. But the wish of finish a job is greater. When you decide to read a book wrote in the original language, you decided to go a step forward in your skills. It means that you have tough tasks ahead. It is not easy, but “no pain, no gain”. And, as I tell you before, my English is not so good.
A suggestion to BBC LE English: why don´t you open “discussion groups” about books? The readers of this post maybe could help giving suggestions.
Daria asked me about popular books in Brazil. We have good authors here. But I will tell you my favorites wrote by Brazilians and wrote by foreign authors:
Brazilians
1. Chronicle of the murdered house (Lúcio Cardoso – Brazil)
2. Brida (Paulo Coelho - Brazil)
3. Dom Casmurro (Machado de Assis – Brazil)
4. Tent of miracles (Jorge Amado – Brazil)
5. Rebellion in the blackland (Euclides da Cunha – Brazil)
Foreigners (I read the books bellow in Portuguese)
1. One hundred years of solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez – Colombia)
2. The name of the rose (Italia – Umberto Eco)
3. The Da Vinci code (Dan Brown – USA)
4. The Tycoons (Charles R. Morris – USA)
5. The old man and the sea (Ernst Hemingway - USA)
Teacher Rachel asked me about the way that the youth and the older people speak here in Brazil. Well, as in Great Britain, youths use slang to communicate to each other. And when they meet someone unknown, an adult, an elderly, or someone as a teacher or any authority, they speak formally. And this is the way that we can separate the ways of the people express here: formal or informal. However, there is an interesting phenomena occurring here: the older people are becoming youth. In other words, the adults and elderly people are using more and more slangs to become closer of the youths. And, as on Brazilian TV is plenty of young people (and TV has to talk the language of its public), it influences the way of the adults express their selves. Maybe in a near future the formal language will be used just in formal occasions, and not as a way to separate groups with different ages.
See you soon.
Comments
I´m just looking for some books mentioned. Thanks! Abraços, Marcos..rs
Hello Marcos, I've read your comment about the different language youth and adults in your country use.I'm German and an elderly person. Yes, I have to say in Germany the situation is similar. Young people talk in a often really awful slang. But I think when they are older and have to go to work and maybe an important job the language will changes. I found your comment interesting that some of the older people try to use the youth' slang. I remember a discussion we have had some years ago, and the youth' unanimous opinion was that the young people have no appreciation for that. They think it is silly and they do not expect this from the adults. What do you think about this, Marcos? Happy Easter Felicitas
Marcos, I like to read foreign books a lot, beyond having a interesting about the book history we are studying language and improving vocabulary and futhermore keeping in touch with the language, of course the reading is more slowly than portuguese (in my case) but i think it is a good task in order to reach our goal in learn foreign language. I have already read "You the leader" Phil Pringle and i am reading now "Audacity of Hope" Barack Obama This first one was amazing, and the second of Barack Obama i am in the page 25 of 400 so far it is very interesting. Bye Thiago
Hi! Few weeks ago I finished my first book in English and it's exactly as you've said: you feel proud when a challenging task is done! (the book was Slum by Nick Hornby, I like his novels so I was very curious to read the last one in English)
The best book "One hundred years of solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez – Colombia)" I read, I liked!!!
Hi Marcos, I've already read a technical book in English, it was a interesting experience. I had the some problems with vocabulary and some expressions. However, I read the book with a dictionary on the side. I thing that the best way is try read a book about your favorite subject. I agree with you, it's hardly but is possible! A interesting thing that I read about is this research [1], It prove that we can read 57% of a book knowing only 250 main words.. It's too exciting. Regards, Nei Rauni Santos
Hi Marcos, Rachel and all Blogers: Happy Easter to you, your familly. Have a nice time :)
Dear Marcos, it’s a pleasure to find my favorite books in your top-list. I’m a real fan of “One hundred years of solitude” and all the rest of Marquez. Umberto Eco and Hemingway are also welcomed! Paulo Coelho is rather popular in our bookshops, so I didn’t avoid the influence of “Alchemist”:) I’ll try to find other Brazilian books from your list in Russian or English – hope they will expand my notion of Brazilian literature. The only one thing I can’t understand is your addiction to reading boring books in English… Sorry, but it must be a torture :) If we read with interest and pleasure we have a faster progress. For example, if you read Agatha Christy’s book you won’t put it away until you know who is a killer! I think you must be a very disciplined learner if you cope with Nicholas Spark. Good luck and good books on your way! P.S. Teacher Helen gave us some reading recommendations in her November 25 post. May be they will help you.
Hi Marcos, I liked your suggestion about a discussion group on books. I hope they take this suggestion into consideration and put it to work. Books are a real adventure. I used to read more before. Nowdays, the crazy days don't leave me very much free time. I remember reading some books in English. I read two of the Harry Potter series, and a book called "Tuesdays with Murray" about a dying man telling us his journey towards death. I share your feelings about reading in English. It's a little disturbing having to refer to the dictionary so often. As the reading goes on, I end up skipping a lot of words and trying to guess the meaning of the sentences to see if the reading flows better. Anyway, it's just like you said: The sense of acomplishment in the end is worth the hard work. You made me feel like taking up this task again. Good bye for now. See you soon, Mauricio.
Hello Marcos I'v readed all the foreigner books you mentioned, but none of the brazilians. I will try some of them, if I can get them. Sorry, but I disagree with you when you say "in a near future the formal language will be used just in formal occasions, and not as a way to separate groups with different ages". I think young people create youth slang because they need it to stablish their identity and take distance from adults. It's part of the process of growing up and so will be in the coming generations. That's why as soon as adults starts using some words of youth language, teenagers stop using these words and create others. That's my opinion. Have a nice day.
Dear Marcos, At the begining I want to congrtulate you for your nice blog. Please, don't be tough on your self and stop doubting your English skills, because at the end of the day it's not your mother tongue, and as long as your language is understadable and you have the courage to write and speak in English, even with some little mistakes,this is a great achivement. Keep the good performance See you soon
Hello Marco! It's nice to know that you like to read blogs and you keep focused your self unless you achieve your target. Its a big deal:). Here, in Pakistan when we meet up with a stranger or a higher authority we use formal language too. But not with the people of our own age group. I think it's a good idea to show some respect to our teachers, or person who are in higher authority. I think it would look awkward to talk to them in slang. It's my opinion. See ya, Mahjabeen
Hello Marcos,I want to know about your suggestion, you have made to BBC LE of opening disscussion group about books. I appriciate your intrest in books reading, I am sure that it will improve your english. The books you have mentioned, I am sorry to say that I have not reat it. Any way I will try to read some of them. Be Happy. By Deepak.
Hello Marcos! I found your idea about a book discussion really interesting. Besides, Dom Casmurro is my favourite book of Machado. It´s hard to say whether Capitu betrayed Bentinho or not. Consequently he´s consumed by doubt and jealousy till the end of his days. Fascinating! Well, I´ve just bought a biography about Jane Austen written by Claire Tomalin. I enjoy very much reading her books and now I´d like to know a bit more about her life. Happy Easter! Ana Paula.
Hi Marcos, you got te good point of views of the reading and the difference way of speeking between the adult and the youth. Language has its life, it is alive and lives long and forever, which means that it is unfading and evolves in each ages, that why the youth's language is surely different with the adult, that is a nature. It's only my personal opinion, as a reference. Best wishes. James.
Hi back Marcos It's great to see you back here again and sorry for being late to welcome you. I hope you can remember me from facebook. This entry about books is very interesting for me. I read the first book in English a year ago it's entitled: "Struggling to Surrender" by Dr.Jeffrey Lang. It was not easy to understand it fully but I loved it and went through it till the end. All the best Bïa
Hi,Marcos. I completely agree what you pointed about reading a English book for a non-native English foreigner.The beginning of that reaing is always difficult . We must face it with patience and forcus . To read step by step and try to understand each section ,and then you'll keep reading forward because of the promoted interests in the book . In my opinion , i just forcus on the key word rather than each word i don't know. I read a lot and widly and then i can know a lot of words . I want to encourage everybody studying hard in learning english ,to make english reading be one part of your life and find out the interest . Above , share with you
Hi everybody, I'm new here. I'm Patricia from Barcelona and one of my favourite hobbies is to read! I have road almost everything about Paolo Coelho. I remember that Brida is a good story. Paolo Coelho always make me think about myself and my diary life. Now, I'm reading my second english book. The book is about Lance Amstrong, the cyclist who is a cancer survivor. The vocabulary is easy but it's so hard to imagine what he felt in each moment of his big trouble. It's an encourage story what I recommend to everybody. The title is "It's not about the bike" I like so much to talk about books!
Hi Marcos, I like to speak about books. To open a book, sometimes, is a memorable experience that leads your soul to unsuspected lands. To read english books, or simply read english as much as you can in any source is one of the best choices that you can do for improving your learning proccess faster. I started two years ago and I've achieved a good range of vocabulary. I started with a Harry Potter's book and later I discovered Alexander McCall Smith and his 44 Scotland Street series. Next english book that I have for reading is Woody Allen's "mere anarchy". As you can see I choose short readings because this is the way to avoid to leave aside the book. Take care. Toni.
hello everyone!! I am a student from uruguay. I'm probably younger than most of you , I'm just sixteen years old so my english could be worst than yours and you may not understand it. I have a couple of questions to you Marcos... in first place, do you think that reading books in english could help you to learn the language? i see that activity like a hard thing too do. but once you can read a lot in a row, I mean, to read a lot of pages without stop, it must be amazing. well I'm finishing here I think I had found some mistakes on your post, but your english is really good. if I were on your shoes, I probably were so proud of me. I was clear? I don't think so but it's all I can do. greetings from uruguay good bye camilo
Hi Marcos you give me a big idea! I go try read books in english too! I want advance my pronunciation and comprehension
Hello! I think your letter is very interesting and i´ll read the book that you just recommend us because i want to improve my English, i don´t speak very well!! Thank you for your advices!!!
Hi Marcos! At first, I haven´t got enough courage to confes here my experience at reading English book. The Valkyries by Coelho was available in an internet shop after I´ve seen the author on Helen´s list. I´ve never read a book by Coelho despite his constant presentation on the slovak book market. I started to read it as the second book along with Thomas Hardy. The language of both were diametrically different, simpleness and modern language on the Coelho´s English version. But, I felt more and more perplexed and couldn´t make out what the story have to bring me I was not good in understanding wholly the religious input in that book that privat story, even, I thought, I would not be in slovak and left the reading half unfinished. My father would not like see me like this..
Nice to meet you,Marcos^^ Wow, I'm really interested in reading books like you.In next entry, can you tell us a lot about your country?^^ Hope so...^^See yoy soon.
Hi dear, I usually read novels in English because they are easier. Sometimes I feel like you do, because, some words or expressions are so difficult to understand that it makes me anxious and a little frustrated. But in the end I feel so proud, and its worth. I have not known your blog and I loved it! Thanks for the courage to writing in English for world people. By
Hello Marcos, and everybody here.. as a new reader of this blog, all i can say as of now, many weeks i was looking a good forum and welcoming blog. i think i already found in here. like everybody here, i am not confident in my english speech especially when im talking to other people using a 2nd language.. and i think i can recommend the best book to read that i think this book help me a lot to understand from the beginning of my learning english. i just give you the Author because these are series but its good for the new learner. V.C. Andrews... i want to tell more, but hope i can make my own blog here to express myself. but as of now, i want to look to someone to be with me from my starting line.. good luck all of us and i enjoying myself hanging around here...
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